Neptune krill oil (NKO) ™ sponsored studies of health benefits using their original NKO

Canadian Neptune Technologies and Bioresources Inc. (now Neptune)  were the frontrunners for quality krill oil, called Neptune Krill Oil (NKOâ„¢).  Earlier studies supporting health benefits of krill oil used NKOâ„¢.  Various suppliers used NKO, with differences in how they package and deliver the oil.  However, the more educated customer became savvy to NKO's rather low EPA / DHA count, and the company made a decision to concentrate their oil using ACETONE. Neptune's new product is called NKO omega plus.

Blood lipids, oxidative stress, inflammation

October 2010 Study showed that krill oil has effects similar to fish oil on serum lipids, oxidative stress and inflammation, but at lower dose of EPA and DHA

"A total of 113 participants ... were randomized into three groups. Thirty-six were given 6 capsules of 3g krill oil a day, with 543 mg of EPA and DHA; 40 were given 3 capsules of 1.8g fish oil a day, with 864 mg of EPA and DHA ... The remaining 37 received no supplementation ... [T]here was a significant increase in plasma EPA, DHA, and DPA in both the krill oil and fish oil groups ... and no significant differences were seen between the fish oil and the krill oil groups. The EPA + DHA dose in the krill was 62.8 % of that in the fish oil."

Lipids October 2010 10.1007/s11745-010-3490-4

Cholesterol / Heart Health Dramatically Improved with Krill Oil

Results were reported for the double-blind phase II clinical trial comparing NKO to high EPA/DHA fish oil and a placebo.

All subjects had diagnosed hyperlipidemia, a known risk factor for heart disease, and mild to very high blood pressure, with cholesterol levels of 194 - 348 mg/dL.

NKO 1.0-1.5g/day     Fish oil 3g/day

A multi-center, McGill University (Canada), 90-day, randomized study, followed by a 90-day, controlled follow-up of the patients in group B (see below). 120 men and women were randomly assigned to one of four 30-patient groups:

Group A - received krill oil at a body mass index (BMI)-dependent daily dosage of 2-3g daily.

Group B - were given 1-1.5 g krill oil daily + Follow-up of 500mg/day (1 softgel) for 90 days

Group C -was given a daily 3g dose of fish oil containing 540 mg EPA and 360mg DHA

Group D - was given a placebo containing microcrystalline cellulose

The study's findings (published in Alternative Medicine Review in 2004):

(1) Krill oil is effective for the management of hyperlipidemia.   By significantly reducing total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, and increasing HDL levels.

(2) At lower and equal doses of fish oil, NKO was significantly more effective than fish oil in managing lipidemia.

(3) Group that continued for 90 days with 1 daily 500 mg softgel for maintenance, cut their heart attack risk in half.    After taking a maintenance dose of 1 - 500 mg softgel for a further 90 days, those in Group B saw their levels of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol plunge 44% and their triglycerides drop 20%, while levels of artery-clearing HDLs soared 38%.

BuneaR et al, Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia

Quality of Life Study evaluated benefits of Krill Oil

This study further evaluated life qualities of the participants in Group A in the above cholesterol/heart study.   Participants answered a 36-question standardized survey at the end of 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days. (Those with a BMI (body mass index) < 32 took 2 - 500 mg softgels daily; those with a BMI > 32 took 3 - 500 mg softgels daily for 90 days)

This survey measured patients'physical function, fatigue, pain, social function, emotional role, mental capacity, general health and physical appearance.The survey, in use since 1998 and published in over 4,000 different studies, was designed to provide statistically valid results.

Physical Appearance

Subjects in the quality of life study (above) reported improvements in several physical attributes.   An improvement in the look and feel of their hair, skin and nails, along with a 58% reduction in wrinkling, redness and other skin problems.

Woman's World Magazine, The New Youth Preserver From Under the Sea, May 2004

PMS

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of NKO for management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods) - concluded:

-   NKO significantly reduced dysmenorrhea and the physical /emotional symptoms of PMS - significantly more effective than fish oil.

Fotini S. et al, Evaluation of the Effects of Neptune Krill Oil™on the Management of Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhea

Arthritis

Study evaluated the effects of NKO on the biomarkers of chronic inflammation and the quality of life of 90 patients with arthritic disease - including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The results of this randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study positively indicated that 300 mg of Pure Krill Oil daily may, within 7-14 days:

(1) Alleviate symptoms caused by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, including joint pain, stiffness and functional impairment.

(2) Significantly inhibit inflammation as shown by a decrease in C-Reactive Protein ( CRP - a biomarker for inflammation).

Study published in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition

Skin Cancer

NKO significantly prevented skin cancer induced by chronic exposure to UV radiation -according to results of a preliminary randomized and controlled 2002 animal study evaluated the effects of krill oil on UVB-radiation induced skin cancer in mice.

Autoimmune Disease

Study using mice, suggested that krill oil may delay the onset and progression of autoimmune disease (such as lupus) - study published in the journal Lipids in 1994, reported on research done at the University of Texas Health Center's Department of Medicine.